Suzuki rev up for final test of 2008

Both Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will be working at the Australian circuit alongside the Kawasaki team, while the other MotoGP squads travel to Jerez to test.

The Suzuki duo will be joined by test rider Nobuatsu Aoki for the three-day test, with the Japanese ready to assist them team with the assessment of 2009 prototype chassis and engine parts.

"This will be a very important test for us as we will be able to see where we are at the moment for next year," said Capirossi. "Suzuki has been working really hard since the last test at Valencia and we will have lots of new parts to try out at Phillip Island.

"We have just done some wind tunnel testing in Japan and with the data we got there it will be interesting to see what the new aerodynamics will be like. We need to make the most of these three days as we don't have as many tests over the winter.

"It will also be good to have Nobu there to gives us some extra info and try out all the newest parts to see their durability and performance."

Vermeulen backed the team's decision to travel to Australia instead of going to Spain, where he believes the cooler weather would have not helped them.

"It is good to be going to Phillip Island rather than Jerez, because I am sure the weather will be better and we'll be able to get a lot more work done," Vermeulen added.

"This is only the second test since the single tyre rule was introduced so it will be interesting to see how the new compound we now have to use performs at a circuit that is always tough on tyres.

"We have had some problems at Phillip Island, but if we find something that works well there then it will almost certainly work even better at other tracks.

"It feels like a long while since we last tested the bike and it will be interesting to see all the new parts that the factory has got for us to try - hopefully they will be a big step in the right direction!"